Guelph, Ont., June 1, 2018 – Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced finalists in the national Smart Cities Challenge today, with the Guelph-Wellington County entry named one of 10 in its population category and awarded $250,000 to further develop its bid for a $10 million prize.

The Guelph-Wellington bid is entered in the category for communities with populations up to 500,000, which drew more than 100 proposals. It was developed in partnership with the University of Guelph, Conestoga College and dozens of other experts, entrepreneurs, innovators and community champions.

As a finalist, Guelph-Wellington will continue work with partners in the bid to win one of two $10 million prizes to be announced by the federal government in spring 2019.

Quotes:

“This is a huge step on our road to becoming Canada’s first circular food economy. It’s a testament to the incredible talent and expertise in food and agriculture that exists in our region. I want to thank all the partners who helped us make it to the finals, and I look forward to working together in the months ahead to clinch the $10 million prize. Guelph will then be truly living its motto – the City that makes a difference, locally and globally.”

– Cam Guthrie, Mayor, City of Guelph

“Our community has the expertise and experience to create a food economy that is more efficient, more productive, more sustainable and more equitable for everyone. We are eager to solve a complex social problem and the Smart Cities Challenge is a critical element of a solution.”

– Dennis Lever, Warden, Wellington County

“I look forward to continuing to champion Guelph-Wellington’s Smart Cities Challenge, which combines our local and regional food expertise in a way that meets the Government of Canada’s goals of sustainability, support for vulnerable people, investing in science, and promotion of Canada as a source for innovation that solves local, national, and global challenges using data and connected technology. An already excited and committed group of people will be all the more determined to put a plan together that will be world leading.”

– Lloyd Longfield, MP Guelph

“We are intent on creating a sustainable food system and addressing an issue that’s important locally, nationally and internationally. We are honoured to have this opportunity to draw on a rich resource of unique expertise here in Canada’s agri-food hub, in the heart of the Toronto-Waterloo Innovation Corridor.”

– Derrick Thomson, Chief Administrative Officer, City of Guelph

“This funding will enable us to create a substantial positive impact on developing systems and products that will be useful around the globe.”

– Scott Wilson, Chief Administrative Officer, Wellington County

Guelph-Wellington County Smart Cities Challenge entry

Guelph-Wellington is where food problems are solved. With a rich tradition of designing practical, creative solutions to address food issues, this hub is home to more than 1,600 food businesses and entrepreneurs, and more than 40 agri-food research institutes and organizations.

The Guelph-Wellington circular food economy vision is to increase access to affordable, nutritious food by 50 per cent, create 50 new circular businesses and collaborations by using waste as a resource and increase circular economic revenues by 50 per cent, all by 2025.